[1] Danny Sugerman contributed a short essay which discusses the band's origins and influences and Morrison's personality, and was printed inside the gatefold sleeve.

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Bruce Eder gave the album a rating of four and a half out of five stars.

However, he opined that the Doors' songs are better heard in the context of the original albums than in compilations, and criticized the non-chronological ordering of the tracks.

Eder added that the remastering of the Doors discography that began in 1996 "renders this collection somewhat less attractive than it was on its initial release".

[2] All tracks are written by the Doors (Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore), except as noted.